Daring Di's Most Famous Dress Will Hit The Auction Block This Spring

It may not look like a lot of decolletage now, but back in 1981, when 19-year-old Diana Spencer was newly engaged to the Prince of Wales, a black strapless dress with a plunging neckline practically scandalized the U.K., earning her the name "Daring Di"--and creating a lifelong obsession with the soon-to-be-princess's style.

9th March 1981: Prince Charles and his fiancee Lady Diana Spencer (1961 - 1997) attend their first public engagement together, a recital at London's Goldsmith's Hall in aid of the Royal Opera House Development Appeal. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)

PHOTO: Getty Images

The black taffeta dress, designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, will hit the auction block this June, according to WWD. "The dress, which Diana wore for her first official appearance after her engagement to Prince Charles, is one of 30 lots from the Emanuels' archive, dating from 1981 to 1986, being put up for sale by Kerry Taylor Auctions," the article says. "Alongside clothes, the sale also includes invoices, designs and paperwork relating to Diana's wedding gown, which the Emanuels designed — the lots number a photographic record of the making of the bridal gown, toiles of the bridal gown and a petticoat that Diana wore to wedding rehearsals at London's St. Paul's Cathedral." The auction is expected to fetch around $169,100, and the prize lot is definitely that daring black dress.

In fact, many people point to that occasion--a charity ball at Goldsmiths' Hall--as the turning point in Diana's style legacy. "'She arrived [to try it on] looking like the nursery school teacher she was, but now she looked like a movie star," Elizabeth Emanuel told the Daily Mail. ''We hadn't considered the fact that when Diana bent over - as she would have to do when getting out of the car - she would show quite a lot of cleavage. We just thought she looked fabulous." And so, apparently, did an adoring public. The dress sparked a lifelong obsession with Princess Di's style, and now, a chance for that public to get their hands on these very famous pieces.

What do you dolls think of "Daring Di's" scandalous dress? Is it too risque for a royal? Were you one of the many fans of her style? And would you want to own this piece of history? Discuss!